China says arrested 1,300 Uighurs during 2008

East Turkistan is home to more than eight million Uighur population, Muslims who have complained for decades of political oppression.

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04 Ocak 2009 Pazar 13:19

China said had arrested almost 1,300 Uighurs during 2008 in East Turkistan, official press said on Sunday.

Historical records show that the Uyghurs have a history of more than 4000 years. Throughout the history the Uyghurs developed a unique culture and civilization and made remarkable contribution to the civilization of the world.

East Turkistan is home to more than eight million Uighur population, Muslims who have complained for decades of political oppression.

The Procuratorial Daily said the arrests came as the government made 'maintaining social stability' a priority last year, when Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympic Games in August.

The paper said 1,295 people were arrested on suspicion of "endangering state security" in the first 11 months of 2008, and that 1,154 were formally charged and faced trials or administrative punishment.

East Turkistan was occupied by the communist China in 1949 and its name was changed in 1955. The communist China has been excersizing a colonial rule over the East Turkistan since then.